Don't get too excited: Gorrell

By
Joshua Matic

May 8, 2014, 3:26 p.m.

Queanbeyan Kangaroos coach Aaron Gorrell is not getting too excited about his men's Canberra Raiders Cup season despite sharing the top of the ladder after running away from cross-town rivals the Queanbeyan Blues 26-10 at Seiffert Oval last Saturday.

Queanbeyan Kangaroos coach Aaron Gorrell is not getting too excited about his men's Canberra Raiders Cup season despite sharing the top of the ladder after running away from cross-town rivals the Queanbeyan Blues 26-10 at Seiffert Oval last Saturday.

Queanbeyan Kangaroos number nine Josh Mitchell was one of the best on ground in the Queanbeyan derby against the Blues last Saturday. Photo: Joshua Matic.

In freezing and wet conditions, errors crept into both sides' games regularly, but the Kangaroos improved from some botched first half opportunities to take the two crucial competition points heading into what could be a tough four weeks against each team from last season's top five and the also unbeaten Gungahlin Bulls.

But Gorrell challenged his players after Saturday's game, and said if his men were a better side they would have put the Blues away in the first half.

"A decent side would have been up by 20," he said.

"We had all the ball and all the field position and so we took our foot off their throat and let them back in the game."

In spite of this Gorrell said his men's ability to outmuscle the Blues and their execution of their gameplan in the second half was a good sign moving forward.

"We spoke about a few players [from the Blues] and the way they play, and I think our right edge really got over their left edge, and we made the most of the opportunities that we had," he said.

Tuggeranong import Josh Mitchell was outstanding at hooker, combining nicely with halves Jordan Macey and Luke Jones in the second half, before two tries a piece to fullback Bryan Cronan and centre Robbie Byatt sealed the deal.

They face the winless Belconnen United Scholars next week who suffered a tough two-point loss to Goulburn in round two, and Gorrell admitted his men still had a lot to fix during the week.

Blues skipper Marc Herbert put his men's loss down to players not warming up as well as they could have.

"We started slowly and didn't hang in there from there," he said.

"We were still in the match at half time but conceded too much ball towards the end which cost us."